Razor blade sharpener



April 9, 1957 S. L. BLANKENSHIP RAZOR BLADE SHARPENER Filed June 14, 1954 sa 54 35 l 1f Je 281725 37 1N V EN TOR.

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57AM/.Ey L. BAAN/EN /g BVM '2 Patented Apr. 9,V 1957 RAZOR BLADE SHARPENER Stanley L. Blankenship, Sunland, Calif.

Application June 14, 1954, Serial No. 436,386

11 Claims. (Cl. 76-89.2)

This invention relates generally to improvements in safety razor sharpening devices. While applicable to the sharpening of either so-called single edge or double edge blades, the invention will be described in certain illustrative embodiments as applied to the accommodation of double edge blades because of their large preponderance inA use.

The invention is predicated upon the concept of providing a blade Sharpener employing a sharpening principle of such simplicity and yet effectiveness, as will permit manufacture and sale of the device in its simpler forms at low costs, and permit modification to include various additional features, all within economical price limitations for this type of device.

With respect to the general sharpening principle employed, the invention contemplates maintenance of a pair of circular cross-section sharpening elements, preferably of elongated cylindrical form, in close Vor peripheral engagement with the blade faces at the edge to be sharpened, and mounting the blade for reciprocation in the direction of its edge so that'the latter becomes sharpened by frictional contact simultaneously with both of the elements. Incorporation of this concept in a practical sharpening device is accomplished by forming the latter with a body into which extends a finger actuable holder which carries the blade inside the body and may be easily and quickly reciprocated in the direction of the blade edge, against the resistance of a spring urging holder outwardly of the housing. n

In one of the simpler forms of the device, the body accommodates two pairs of cylindrical sharpening elements so located at opposite sides of the holder as to receive between them the blade edges, the elements being confined to the extent that they will bear against the blade faces with suliicient pressure that a few reciprocations of the holder will restore the blade to effectively sharp edges.

Another embodiment of the invention contemplates the further features of mounting the sharpening elements so that they may have bodily rotation against a circular bore wall of the body to the end that the blade edge will be subjected to the sharpening action of both relative axial and rotational movement of the elements. In this instance I may provide means whereby the blade holder is caused to rotate in response to its longitudinal reciproeating movement, and the sharpening elements are supported by carriers which are rotatable with the elements, about the turning axis ofthe holder. Thus upon reciprocation of the latter, the blade edges are moved back and forth between the sharpening elements, and as the latter are rotated in contact with the stationary body wall, the elements individually rotate against Athe blade.

All the various features and objects of the invention, as well as the details of certain typical embodiments thereof, will be further explained and understood `to best advantage by. reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view showing rin longitudinal section one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a transverse cross-section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a variational form of the invention; and

Fig. 5 is a cross-section on line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Referring first to the form of the invention appearing in Figs. l to 3, the device comprises a body, generally indicated at 10, which for economy may be molded of an appropriate resinous plastic material, the body including a base section l1 and a cover 12 shaped to fit over the base to the point of interengagement between the shoulders at 13. The cover 12 may carry one or more guide projections 14 receivable within corresponding opening or openings l5 in the base. As best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the base 1l may include an outer shell 16 and in effect, an integrated inner section 17 shaped to present recesses 1S at opposite sides of the center cavity 19. At the right hand end of the body as viewed in Figs. l and 2, this cavity opens to the outside along the flared wall surfaces 20, and at the opposite end, the cavity is closed bythe upstanding end 21 of the inner portion 17.

Each of the recesses at 1S contains a pair of elongated essentially cylindrical blade sharpening elements 22, made typically of polished carbon steel and arranged in parallel with their surfaces in contact at 23. If desired, and for the purpose of increasing their blade sharpening effectiveness, the elements 22 may have shallow spiral or helical grooves 24 in their surfaces. These elements are shown to be retained between plastic or metal clips or holders Z5 which seat within the recesses 18 towardthe ends thereof. The holders 25 preferably have a curved configuration about the elements 22 as best illustrated in Fig. 3, and have sufiicient resiliency as normally to maintain the elements in surface engagement at 23, while permitting their slight displacement apart to the extent necessary for reception of the edge portions of the usual safety razor blade 26. f

The body lil contains a removable blade carrier, generally indicated at 27, in the form of a guide or slide 28 .reciprocable longitudinally within the body by finger pressure applied to the outside head 29 of the slide. The latter is recessed at 30 between shoulder 31 and the upstanding abutment 32 at the opposite end of the slide to accommodate the blade 26, the center slot of which is received over an upstanding guide rib 33 on the slide. Y

Displacement of the slide inwardly of the body is resisted by a coil spring 34 confined about retaining pin 35 between the abutment 32 and portion 21 of the body, pin 35 being receivable within an opening 36 in the body as the slide approaches the limit of its stroke to the left.

The blade carrier slide 28 may be withdrawn from the body sufficiently to permit loose fitting of the blade 26 over the rib 33 in lioating relation to the slide surface 37. As the slide is then returned into the body, the edges of the blade are permitted by free floating of the blade onthe rib to adjust themselves between the sharpeningelements 22 in such relation that the tangential points of closest approach between the elementstis at the edges of the blade. By placing the Adevice in the palm of the users hand, theslide and blade may be reciprocated rapidly and easily between the elements 22 by thumb action against the head 29. Such reciprocation of the blade against the cylindrical surfaces of the sharpening elements, and particularly with the aiding effect of the spiral grooves 2li, brings the blade edges to rel stored sharpness with reasonably few strokesiof the slide.

The form of the invention shown in-Figs. 4 and 5 is generally similar to the described embodiment, except that here, provision is made for imparting not only reciprocation of the blade edges longitudinally between the sharpening elements, but also 12o impart rotation to those elements during and as a result of the blade reciprocation. In other words, the sharpening elements in this instance, become rollers in a true functional sense.

The device appearing in Figs. 4 and 5 has a hollow tubular body 40 closed at one end and `an attachednose or cap 41, the body containing a circular bore 42 which opens straight through to the `opposite end ot the body. The latter may be formed in two sections 405/ and 40h joined together along the` surface 43 at the outside et an annular T-shaped groove 44.

The body contains a pair of carriers 45 and 46 con taining curved recesses 47 within which are placed the rollers 48 between shoulders or abutinents 49 at the ends of the recesses. The carriers 45 and 46 are rotntabie within the body, carrier 45 being guided in its rotation by a pin 50 terminally received within an annular groove 51 in the nose 41.V The roller and carrier assembly is actuated in its rotative movement within the body by a reciprocable blade holder generally indicated at 52, in the form of a slide rod 53 received within the center openings 54 in the carrier and having a flattened surface 55, the slide as before having an upstanding rib 57 which loosely lits the blade slot so that the blade may lloat relative to surface 55. The inner end of the slide rod is received within a sleeve 58 containing a spiral slot S9 which receives a pin `or other projection 60 on the slide so that as the latter is reciprocated, the travel of the projection in the slot 59 tends to rotate the slide. As will be understood, the sleeve 58 may be stationarily fitted at 62 within the nose 41. At its outer end, the slide rod carries a rotatable head 63 against which finger pressure may be exerted to reciprocate the slide within the body, the head remaining rotatably stationary while the slide turns therein.

Upon reciprocation of the slide, the resulting rotation thereof is transmitted by the blade 56 to the roller and carrier assembly, resulting in rotative displacement within the bore 42 of the carrier sections 45 and 46, together with the rollers 48. The resulting engagement of the rollers against the bore wall 42 produces rotation of the rollers. Accordingly, as the blade is reciprocated between the rollers, the latter simultaneously rotate, and conse quently the blade edges become sharpened as a result of the combined effects of their longitudinal reciprocation between the rolls, and turning of the rolls against the edge surfaces. As before, advancement of the slide into the body is effected by nger pressure against the head 63. Return movement of the slide occurs as a result of the thrust of coil spring 70 against washer 71, both the spring and washer encircling the sleeve 58.

In the Fig. l form of the invention, the sharpening elements may be positioned by either or both the described clips 25 or by terminal trunnions 72.

It will be understood that the drawings are to be regarded merely as illustrative of the invention in certain of its typical and illustrative forms, and that various changes and modications may be made without departure from the invention in its intended spirit and scope.

I claim:

l. A safety razor `blade Sharpener comprising a body forming a cavity, a holder extending within the body cavity including a slide and a projection carried thereby for free insertion through an aperture formed in the blade to mount the blade for reciprocation` in the direction of its cutting edge and for oating movement in a direction normal to the plane of the blade and in spaced relation to the slide, and a pair of circular cross-section sharpening elements in the body cavity oliset` from said slide in said normal direction and at one side of the projection for freely receiving between them the blade against the faces and said edge is sharpened by reciprocation of the blade between the elements.

2. The invention as dened in claim 1 comprising elongated cylindrical sharpening elements.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 in which said elements have helical grooves in their surfaces.

4. The invention as defined in claim 2 including means Y mounting said elements for rotation within said body.

faces at said cutting edge so. that the elements press 5. A safety razor blade Sharpener comprising a body forming a cavity, a holder extending from within the body cavity to an end portion outside the body said holder including a slide and a projection carried thereby for free insertion through an aperture formed in a blade to mount the blade for reciprocation in the direction of its cutting edges and for floating movement in a direction normal to the plane of the blade and in spaced relation to the slide, a spring resisting movement of the holder' inwardly of the body, and two pairs .of circular crossscction sharpening elements in the body cavity offset from said slide in said normal direction and at opposite sides of the projection for freely receiving the blade faces at said cutting edges so that the elements press against said faces and said edges are sharpened by reciprocation of the blade between the elements.

6. A Sharpener as dened in claim 5, in which said elements have elongated substantially cylindrical surfaces.

7. A shaipener as defined in claim 5, in which said elements have elongated substantially cylindrical surfaces containing helical grooves and are confined against appreciable axial movement in the housing.

8. A safety razor blade Sharpener comprising a body, a holder extending within the body and adapted to carry a blade therein, said holder being movable to reciprocate the blade in the direction of its cutting edge, a pair of circular cross-section sharpening elements in the body for receiving between them the blade faces at said cutting edge so that the elements press against the faces and said edge is sharpened by reciprocation of the blade between the elements, means including a cam for ro tating said holder in response to its reciprocating movement, and means mounting said lelements and holder for rotation together Within the body.

9. The invention as defined in claim 8 in which said last named means comprises a carrier for said elements mounted for rotation within a circular bore in the body.

10. A safety razor blade Sharpener comprising a body, a holder extending within the'body and adapted to carry aY blade therein, said holder being movable to reciprocate the blade in the direction of its cutting edge, a pair of circular cross-section sharpening elements in the body for receiving between them the blade faces at said cutting edge so that the elements press against the faces and said edge is sharpened by reciprocation of the blade between the elements, means for rotating said holder in response to its reciprocating movement, and means mounting said elements for rotation With the holder.

11. The invention as defined in claim 10 in which said last named means comprise carriers for said elements mounted for rotation within a circular bore in the body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Italy Mar. 5, `1945 

